You may now register for the Harvard Divinity School Conference of 4 and 5 December 2024. But you will need to hurry as places are limited. If you cannot access the QR link on the psoter, please try this one: https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8evTTIaw1W6SJ02

It is being conducted under the auspices and with the assistance of the Center for the Study of World Religions.

The programme is as follows:

Wednesday 4 December, 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Welcoming remarks by Prof Charles Stang of the CSWR, Prof. Carole Cusack of the University of Sydney and presently a visiting Fellow at Harvard, where she is teaching their first ever Gurdjieff course, and Alexandre de Salzmann. This is followed by the screening of a documentary (I am not sure which, but I think it features Jeanne de Salzmann), and a reception.

Thursday 5 December, 9:00a.m. Opening remarks by Prof. Stang.

9:15a.m.-10:00a.m. Morning keynote: “G. I. Gurdjieff, the Work, and the Academic Study of Religion and Esotericism” (Carole Cusack)

Then follow a series of panels. I believe that each panelist has fifteen minutes, and each panel will  be moderated by either Prof Cusack or Stang.

10:00a.m.-11:15a.m.  

Panel 1: Spiritual and Scientific Influences that Shaped Gurdjieff and His Teachings

“Knowledge of the West” (Charles Langmuir)

“G.I. Gurdjieff as Cosmopolitan of early 20th Century: Transformation in Translation” (Michael Pittman)

“Understanding of the East” (Ravi Ravindra)

“Spiritual and Scientific Influences that Shaped Gurdjieff and His Teachings” (Steven Sutcliffe)

11:15a.m.-11:30a.m.   Coffee break

11:30a.m.-12:45p.m.

Panel 2: Embodied Wisdom

“The question Remains of the Body” (David Appelbaum)

“Gurdjieff, Alchemy, and the Emerald Tablet” (Joseph Azize)

“Gurdjieff, Phenomenology, and Embodied Wisdom” (David Seamon)

“The Gurdjieff Movements: An introductory Exploration”  (Laurie Morrocco)

12:45p.m. – 1:45p.m.   Lunch

1:45p.m.-3:00p.m.   Afternoon keynote: “Mr. Gurdjieff’s Original Approach to Life” (Alexandre de Salzmann)

Panel 3: Values of the Gurdjieff teaching 

An exploration with Cynthia Bourgeault and Roger Lipsey

3:00p.m.-3:15p.m.   Coffee break

3:15p.m.-4:30p.m.

Panel 4: Cultural productions

“G.I. Gurdjieff in the Theatre: the Fourth Way of Jerzy Grotowski” (Catharine Dada)

“Images of Cosmic Descent” (Richard Temple)

[Talk title forthcoming] (Charles Ketcham)

“Objective Art: The Influence of Gurdjieff’s Esoteric Aesthetics on American Literature” (Jon Woodson)

5:00p.m.   Piano Performance (Cecilia Ignatieff, Charles Ketcham)

 

I hope to see you there.